David Haye announces his retirement from boxing

David Haye, the former two-weight world champion went through with his
long-held intention and announced his retirement this afternoon, from his
gym, a converted railway arch in Vauxhall, South London.

Haye, who lost his WBA title to Wladimir Klitschko in July, has always said he would not fight beyond his 31st birthday - Oct 13 - and followed up on that promise by confirming he has hung up his gloves. "Today's date is October 13, 2011 and I've just turned 31 years of age," he said in a statement.

"As the clock struck 12 last night my professional boxing career came to an end." There were suggestions that Haye would fight WBC champion Vitali Klitschko next year, but the Londoner appeared to ruled that out on Thursday afternoon.

"Vitali Klitschko did show an interest in sharing a ring with me in 2012," he said. "But since that initial declaration we have heard the wrong noises from Team Klitschko, which has left me thinking there is little chance of the fight ever coming to fruition. I don't think he really wants to fight me."

Haye became the undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world, and then moved up to the heavyweight division, defeating Nikolai Valuev to earn the WBA crown.

In a written statement yesterday, handed to the media, Haye gave his reasons for finishing now, in spite of being at the peak of his powers athletically, and not having miles on the clock as a fighter.

"In fact, it has been my intention to retire from the sport of boxing on this particular day ever since I first laced up a pair of gloves as a skinny ten-year-old at the Fitzroy Lodge Amateur Boxing Club in Lambeth," he said.

"I even remember sitting in a KFC on Oxford Street with my trainer, manager and friend Adam Booth, shortly before turning pro as a 22-year-old, and discussing this decision in great detail. Over a bargain bucket and coke, we outlined three mission objectives and agreed wholeheartedly to do everything in our power to make it all become a reality."

He explained there was a "three-part mission objective". To win as many genuine titles as possible; to generate as much money as possible and secure his future, and get out of boxing in his prime, at the age of 30, with "all his faculties intact."

Haye explained: "To begin with, I won the European cruiserweight title and defended it three times, defeating two unbeaten contenders in the process. I then travelled into foreign territory to win the WBC, WBA and The Ring magazine world cruiserweight championships from Jean-Marc Mormeck, the consensus number one 200-pound fighter in the world.

"I also added the WBO world cruiserweight title to the collection with a win over Enzo Maccarinelli, and unified the division in the process. I then relinquished all those belts, moved up to heavyweight to win the WBA heavyweight championship of the world from Nikolay Valuev, and twice successfully defended that particular title. I took world titles from three champions and did so by fighting on my opponent's terms (promotionally) each and every time."

"My entire heavyweight career has been showcased and screened live as part of massive pay-per-view events, and each heavyweight bout generated healthy seven-figure-plus paydays. Financial security is vital for any boxer, especially given the dangerous nature of the sport, and I am proud to say I maximised my earning potential throughout my time in boxing."

Haye added: "I didn't want my speech to become any more slurred than it was when I first entered the ring, and was keen not to one day look like an extra from Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' video. Other than a few fractures (which healed perfectly within a couple of months), a faulty little toe, and some superficial cuts around my eyes, I believe the third and most important objective has been achieved."

"All in all, I have achieved nearly everything I could have hoped to achieve at this point in my professional boxing life. It would have been great to have beaten Wladimir Klitschko in July to unify the world heavyweight titles, but, while I've always strived for perfection, it sometimes doesn't work out that way in life.

"Aside from the loss to Wladimir, I am proud of everything I have achieved as both a cruiserweight and heavyweight and truly hope that the boxing fans and media will remember and view my overall career achievements in the right context.

"Yes, I was outspoken and controversial in the lead up to many fights, but I truly believe the hype and drama I brought to the ring – especially as a heavyweight – helped create major pay-per-view happenings and also brought boxing back to mainstream attention, if only for a short period of time."

However, this is boxing, so we might as well say 'never say never' to Haye's return. In boxing terms, Haye remains capable of boxing at his best for the next two to three years, and indeed, although he insists he will begin acting classes next year for a follow-up career in films, it would be no surprise if the right deal were struck with Vitali Klitschko to lure him back to the ring. Once a fighter, always a fighter.